Ventilating mechanism for toilet bowls



Dec, 9, 1947.

O. R. OEHRING VENTILATING MECHANISM FOR TOILET BOWLS Filed Oct. 14, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

0 0 Odin/n BY fia/bgdma jl orgey Dec. 9, 1947. o. R. OEHRING VENTILATING MECHANISM FOR TOILET BOWLS Filed Oct. 14, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

Patented Dec. 9, 1947 VENTILATING MECHANISM FOR TOILET BOWLS Otto R. Oehring, Saginaw, Mich.

Application October 14, 1944, Serial No. 558,763

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved ventilating mechanism for toilet bowls and the like, More specifically the invention embraces an attachment which can be applied to toilet bowls already in use, as well as to new bowls in the process of manufacture.

One of the prime objects of the invention is to design a ventilating attachment in such form that it can be mounted on and is capable of attachment to the conventional toilet bowl without change or modification of the bowl, or the operating mechanism thereof.

Another object is to design a very simple, practical and comparativel inexpensive attachment which will, when in operation, effectively and efiiciently remove all odors from the toilet bowl, and which is automatic in its operation.

A further object is to provide a unitary ventilating device of neat and pleasing appearance, which can be attached, in operative connection, to any suitable bowl with a minimum of labor, and which is secured in position by the conventional seat bolts which form a part of the conventional installation.

A further object still is to provide a gate in the device for controlling the air passage in the unit, to the end that suction occurs only in the bowl or bowls in use and without affecting other bowls connected to the common exhaust pipe.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size, proportions and minor details of construction, without departing from the spirit, or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig, 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a conventional toilet bowl with my improved ventilating attachment in place thereon, the seat and cover being omitted.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view with the seat and cover included.

Fig, 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of the attachment proper, the broken lines showing the switch control member forced inwardly to energize the exhaust fan, and actuate the gate, the solid lines showing the plunger and gate in normal position, the arrows indicating the direction of flow of air.

Fig, 4 is an enlarged top plan view.

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged View of the linkage for connecting the actuating lever and gate, the broken lines illustrating the movement.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational View of the front end of the unit.

Fig. 8 is a View similar to Fig. 1 and showing an alternate arrangement in which the exhaust fan is automatically energized when the seat is depressed.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings in which I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, there is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 a conventional toilet bowl 8, the seat and cover 9 and ll] respectively, being omitted from Fig. 1 to more clearly show the attachment. Bolts I I are provided on the rear of the bowl in spaced relation and serve to hingedly connect the seat member 9 to the bowl so that it may be swung upwardly in the usual manner, and these bolts also are utilized for mounting and securing the attachment in position.

The attachment is shown in enlarged detail in Figs. 3 to 7 inclusive, and comprises a shell l2 preferably in the form of a casting having laterally projecting lugs I3 cast integral therewith, and openings M are provided in the lugs, said openings being in direct alignment with the seat bolts 1 I which extend therethrough to secure the shell in position.

The shell [2 is hollow as shown, the front end being open as indicated at 15, and a gate l5 forms a closure for said opening, said gate being pivotally mounted at IT to admit foul air when in open position, and lugs l8 are provided in the shell for limiting the swinging movement of the gate, a coil spring l9 being attached to the shell and gate respectively, and serving to normally hold the gate in closed position. A pipe 21 is connected to the bottom face of the shell, a conduit 22 leads from said pipe to an exhaust line 23 so that the odors will be exhausted when the device is in operation.

A suitable switch 25 is mounted on the shell l2 in position as shown, and a spring pressed plunger or contact 26 projects from the face thereof, this switch controlling the exhaust fan 24, and wires 21 are connected to said switch, leading through the hollow shell and conduit 22 to the fan, similar wires 28 leading from the switch to a conventional socket (not shown) or other source of power.

The switch 25 can be manually actuated as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, or it can be automatic as indicated in Fig. 8 and as will be presently described.

A bracket 29 is bolted or otherwise secured to the face of the shell I2, the upper end terminating in an elongated bearing 30, and a horizontally disposed shaft 3| is journaled therein. A switch actuating lever 32 is mounted on the shaft 3| with its free end in intimate contact with the end of the plunger 26, and a hand control lever. 33. is mounted on the opposite end. of said shaft so that the. lever 32 may be swung to actuate the plunger 26 and energize the switch to operate the exhaust fan.

The gate I6 is simultaneously operable with. the switch 25, a lever 34 being mounted on the shaft 3|, and a shorter lever 35 being mounted on the shaft 11, a, link 36 connectingttheslevers 34 and 35 so that actuation of the control lever 33 to operate the switch, also-simultaneouslyactuates the gate l6.

This attachment can" be very easily attached and makes every neat installation, there.is.no cutting,,fitting, or. alteration; the seat. bolts.v ll hold it securely in position; the. wires 2'I. are concealed from view; and. the controlhandle is conveniently located.

In use, the operator merelyswingsthecontrol lever 33. so that. the levers 32 and 34 force the plunger 26 inwardly to energize the switch 25 which starts the exhaust fan 24'and alsoopens the gate [8 simultaneously, so that air, maybe exhausted. from the bowl, and when. the lever 33 is released, the spring pressed plunger. 26 is forced. outwardly, breaking contact and cutting off the current, and the linkage and. spring I 9 swing the gate l6 back to a closed position; thus making for economy in operation.

When the bowl& is arranged in a battery; such as. is common in hotels and similar institutions, the exhaust fanland lines Hand 24 respectively serve the entirebattery, therefore, if no gatewere provided, air would be drawn from all of the bowls in the battery even if one bowl. only were in use, which would. be both wasteful and inefilcient.

In. the arrangement. shown in Fig. 8, the exhaust fanis automatically energized, a: short bracket 38' being secured to the lower face of the seat 9 and is positioned to engage the switch plunger member 26 when the.- seat is" down. Bumpers 39', made of rubber: or similar material, are provided on: the lower. face of the seat in spacedrelation, and spring members 4n;ar.e-'also provided as shown; these members serving: to

swing the seat upwardly to position shown in broken linesin Fig. 8 of the: drawings when the toilet bowl is not use, thus swinging: the bracket 38. out of engagementwith theplunger 25; and cutting off'the supply of electric energy to the exhaust fan..

When the bowl is'occupied', the seat:is forced downwardly so that the bracket 38.? actuates the plunger 26 to again energize-the exhaustfan.

From the foregoing, it. will be obvious that I have perfected a ver simple. practical; and inexpensive ventilating attachment for toilet bowl; which can". be readilymanufactured', assembled, and mounted. and whichiis: efficient-in operation.

What I claim is? 4 1. The combination with a toilet bowl having a hinged seat of a ventilating attachment adapted to be mounted on the bowl and comprising a flat, hollow shell, open at one end and having projecting lugs provided with openings in alignment with the openings for the bowl seat bolts and secured thereby, an exhaust pipe communioating:v with the lower face of the shell and leading; man exhaust fan, a switch housing and switch mounted on the upper face of the hollow shell and spaced rearwardly from the front edge of said shell, a spring pressed contact plunger projecting from the front wall of the switch housing, said switch being connected to the exhaust fan. and to: a source of power, a gate normally forming a closure for the open end of the shell, ahorizontally disposed, manually operable shaft journaled on the housing, and levers on said shaft for opening said. gate and engaging said plunger toenergize said switch when theshaft is actuated.

2; The combination with a toilet bowl having a hinged seat, of" a bowl ventilating attachment adapted. to be mounted on the toilet bowl and comprising a hollow fiat" shell open at one end and having outwardly projecting lugsprovided with openings in vertical alignment with the openings for. the. toiletbowl seat bolts and secured. thereby, a shaft spanningv the open end of.I the..shell,,a spring retractedgate mounted on the shaft and normally forming a closure for the open end. of the shell,.a lever on said shaft,, an exhaust pipe openingiinto. and connected to the lowerface of the shell and leading to an exhaust fan,,aswitch.housing and switch mounted on the upper face. of. the. hollow. shell. and connected. to a.source of power andto. an exhaust.fan,a-horizontally, disposed. spring. pressed plunger proj ecting fromthe. front. of theswitch housing, a-vertically disposed. detachable bracket mounted. on said shell, a bearing. on the. upper end. thereof, a horizontally. disposed shaft journaledin said bearing, a hand lever mounted on said shaft, 9. depending contact arm onsaidshaftfor.engagementv with thespring pressed plunger when the arm is actuated.- to. swing thelower flatend of thecontact armintoengagement with the plunger to energizesaid-exhaust fan when the shaft isactuated, and: a second lever mounted on said shaft and connected to the gateshaft lever for simultaneouslyactuating saidgate when the hand lever is actuated.

OTTO R. OEHRING.

REFERENCES. CITED- The following references are of record in the file: of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Walsh et a1 Oct; 25, 1938 

